Norris Cole ready for Heat challenge at point guard

MIAMI — The kid is all right. At least that's what Norris Cole will attempt to impress upon the Miami Heat when training camp opens Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Cole joined several teammates Monday on the Heat's practice court for the informal sessions that will continue until an expected Thursday ratification of a new collective-bargaining agreement.

Also working out at the team facility Monday were James Jones, Joel Anthony, Juwan Howard and Dexter Pittman.

Unlike those four, Cole's next NBA practice will be his first. Selected in the first round of the June 23 NBA Draft, the point guard out of Cleveland State had only a few fleeting sessions with coach Erik Spoelstra before the July 1 start of the lockout. He remains unsigned, with that formality to come Friday.

During the lockout, Cole trained under former NBA guard Sedric Toney and even got in a few sessions alongside fellow Northern Ohio resident LeBron James. He nonetheless reports as a neophyte.

"I can't control that," the 6-foot-1 point guard said of being robbed of the intense "Heat Academy" summer schooling. "I can only work on what I can control and that's staying in shape, getting my shots in, getting my skill level up, keeping my conditioning up.

"It was a nerve-wracking experience. I was ready to get down, here but I couldn't control it. So I made sure that my body was in condition and I was ready to go."

And, yes, there were concerns the debut might be put off for a full season.

"The thought," he said, "ran through my head a couple times."

So now comes the ultimate challenge, lining up for that first drill Friday with James on one wing, Dwyane Wade on the other and Chris Bosh in the post. With Mario Chalmers a restricted free agent, this very much could be Cole's offense to manage at the start of camp.

"There's going to be a lot of things thrown at me, but me being in college for four years, I think I have a quick learning curve," he said. "I'm mature enough to be able to handle criticism. As long as you work hard and earn the respect of the veterans I think everything will be fine, because this team was already good without me being here."

While Jones and Cole share a common agent in Joel Bell, it was the interactions with James that set the stage for Cole.

"I worked out with LeBron a couple times in Akron. He's a cool guy, he opened up his place for me to work out at his place," Cole said. "He's a physical specimen. He's the truth and it's just great to be around him."

The priority is working on his 3-point shot, with extended range a goal presented by the Heat prior to the lockout.

Another priority is accepting he's not in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, anymore.

"It's different from Dayton, a lot," he said. "It's almost like paradise down here. But once basketball starts, you try not to pay attention. The weather is great, obviously, but my focus is on me getting better and helping us get a championship."

To ease the transition, his mother accompanied him.

"It was great, finally, just to get down here," he said. "I've been waiting so long. It's like you wait your whole life to get here, then you have to wait another six months."